Improvement in harvesters



A IEX' A raton.

WILLIAM K.v MILLER, OF CANTON, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARVESTERS. Y

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 139,597, dated June 3, 1873; application tiled March 14, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM K. MILLER, of Canton, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harvest-ers, of which the following is a specification:

My present invention relates to harvesters of the class known as hinge-joint machines. Its object is to improve the efficiency of the machine; and the subject-matter claimed is hereinafter specically set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, which show all the improvements hereinafter claimed as embodied in one machine, Figure l is a plan, with the drivers seat-and portions of the platform removed; Fig. 2,' a side elevation, with the cutting apparatus and inner drive-Wheel removed, Fig. 3, a longitudinal vertical central section through the machine; Fig.4, a rear elevation of part thereof. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 show details of the device for raising and lowering the front end of the coupling-frame; and Fig. 8, a transverse section through the coupling-frame on the line .r x of Fig. l; Fig. 9, a longitudinal vertical section through the shoe; Fig. 10, a section through the countershaft, showing the gearing and shipper.

Two main wheels, A A", turnlloosely on an axle, B, with which they are connected by suitable locking-ratchets. The axle turns in bear- `ings in a main frame, C, by preference of cast metal, and of the form shown in the drawings.

A tie-rod, c, connects the main axle with a proyectln g arm, c1, on the inner front corner of the main frame, to brace the parts. A simi-` lar tie-rod, c2, connects the front and rear parts of the frame below the axle. A tongue, D, is pivoted to theframe at d, resting in a socket in the frame, which braces it against lateral strains. A set-screw, d1, passing up through a bracket, d?, beneath the tongue, serves to raise or lower the tongue relatively t0 the front end of the frame.

This device rocks the main frame on the axle. The front end of a drag-bar, E, moves up and down in a guide, e, located on the front of the frame and centrally between the driving-wheels, being controlled by a link, el, crank-arm E1, hand-lever E2, and a spring'detent of wellknown construction.

Figs. 1 and 2 show the details of this rocking device. rlhe lever, it will be noted, is mounted on one side of the main frame, where it is more conveniently reached by the driver than if mounted directly over the drag-bar.

The drag-bar is, by preference, made oi' comy paratively thin'wrought metal, with a longitudinal corrugaton, c, to sti'en it. '(See Fi g. 8.) A coupling-arm, F, is connected to the frame at one end by a swivel-joint, f, and at the other is riveted to the drag-bar. A stiffening-plate, f', Fig. 8, is secured to the under side of the drag-bar and coupling-arm. A strong but light coupling-frame is thus secured. The joints of the coupling-arm and drag-bar, it will be observed, lie in the central line or longitudinal axis of the machine, which, in this instance, is coincident, or nearly so, with the crank-shaft. The lower end of the couplin g-frame is bifurcated, forming lugs, to which ashoe, Gr, is pivoted, as shown. A lingerbeam, H, and platform I are secured to this shoe in the usual way. A grain-wheel, J, supl ports the divider end of the platform. The cutting apparatus is of the usual Hussey type.

In mowing, the grain-wheel. and platform are removed, and the cutting apparatus con- `forms freely to the undulations of the ground.

In harvesting, it 1s desirable that the inner shoe should be carried above the ground, that its joint should be free to flex to enable the heel end of the cutting apparatus to rise over elevations, and yet that the divider end of the finger-beam should not rise above a given point.

These capabilities are especially advantageous in using an automatic rake-snchhfor instance, as the one shown in another division of this application, filed simultaneously herewithas the limitationof the rising of the divider end of the cutting apparatus prevents the rake from striking the machine and becoming injured. To this end `I use a stop, con` sisting of a bar, K, .piv,oted toa lug on the shoe, and adjustablebymeans of a creased clutch, k. This barrrests "on the coupling frame, and thus limitsthedownward flexure of the joint at the heel end ofthe cutting apparatus, while allowing it freely to rise, at the same time limiting the rise of the outer end of the finger-beam.

The inclination nf are gnnnalnngers, it wm be observed, can be varied by moving the frontend ot' the drag-bar E up or down by mean s o t' the hand-lever R2, as before explained, and this range of motion is increased by the tongue adjustment hereinbefore described.

A lifting' hand-lever, L, pivoted on the tongue carries a sector, Z, connected by a rod and chain, l1, with a similar sector, L1, on a rock-shaft, Z2, mounted on an arm, C', projecting from the main frame. A second sector, L2, on this rock-shaft is connected by a chain, Z3, with the coupling-frame. The finger-beam is thus raised, lowered, ,or suspended.

A spur-wheel, M, on the main axle drives a corresponding pinion, m, Aon a counter-shaft,

n, carrying a bevel-wheel, N, which drives a bevel-gear, o, on a crank-shaft, O, which drives a pitman, P. The mechanism is thrown into or out of gear by a shipping-clutch on the counter-shaft, actuated by a shipper, R. (See Fig. 10.) The pitman is connected with the sickle eye by means of a tubular socket, p, in which it turns. An arm, p', depending from this socket is perforated at right angles there- The adjustable locking stop-bar K, mountedn on the shoe and resting on the coupling-frame, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

WM. K. MILLER. Vitnesses:

GEO. Mc GUIRE, A. A. KEITH. 

